THIS IS A BORZOI BOOK PUBLISHED BY ALFRED A. KNOPF
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2016 by Sarah Dillard
All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.
Knopf, Borzoi Books, and the colophon are registered trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Dillard, Sarah, author.
Title: Camp out / Sarah Dillard.
Description: First edition. | New York : Alfred A. Knopf, [2016] | Series: Mouse Scouts ; 3 |
Summary: “The Mouse Scouts are hitting the nature trail to earn their ‘Camp Out’ badge. But not all of the troopers are gung-ho about sleeping beneath the stars. When Miss Poppy goes missing, can the Scouts work together to track down their troop leader?” —Provided by publisher
Identifiers: LCCN 2016001273 (print) | LCCN 2016026345 (ebook) | ISBN 978-0-385-75609-9 (lib. bdg.) | ISBN 978-0-385-75608-2 (pbk.) | ISBN 978-0-385-75610-5 (ebook)
Subjects: | CYAC: Scouting (Youth activity)—Fiction. | Camping—Fiction. | Mice—Fiction. | BISAC: JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / General. | JUVENILE FICTION / Nature & the Natural World / General (see also headings under Animals). | JUVENILE FICTION / Family / General (see also headings under Social Issues).
Classification: LCC PZ7.D57733 Cam 2016 (print) | LCC PZ7.D57733 (ebook) | DDC [Fic]—dc23
Ebook ISBN 9780385756105
Random House Children’s Books supports the First Amendment and celebrates the right to read.
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Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter 1: Preparing for Adventure
Chapter 2: Welcome to the Wilderness
Chapter 3: The Hike
Chapter 4: Thunder!
Chapter 5: Setting Up Camp
Chapter 6: The Campfire
Chapter 7: The Ghost Story
Chapter 8: Miss Poppy Is Missing
Chapter 9: The Search
Chapter 10: Found
The Badge Ceremony
About the Author
For Fiske, the best neighbor!
Up until now, becoming a Mouse Scout was the best thing that had ever happened to Violet. But all that changed when Miss Poppy announced that the Acorn Scouts would be going on an overnight camping trip to earn their “Camp Out” badge.
Violet could still hear Miss Poppy’s shrill voice in her head as she started arranging her camping supplies. “We are going to hike through the wilderness until we find a suitable spot for setting up camp,” Miss Poppy had said. “Then we will forage for healthy nuts and delicious berries to prepare a filling, nutritious meal. After the sun goes down, we’ll have a campfire and sing songs. Trips like this are what Mouse Scout memories are made of!”
But Violet wasn’t fooled by any of that. She was pretty sure camping was going to be horrible. Nature was okay, and she liked gardens and playing in the park. But the wilderness was a whole different story. It was a scary place, full of danger. She’d be lucky to get out of there alive.
Violet looked at all the things laid out on her bed. Then she checked her Mouse Scout Handbook to be sure she hadn’t forgotten anything.
Acorn mess kit: check.
First-aid kit: check.
Toothbrush: check.
Change of clothing: check.
2 rubber bands: check.
Emergency whistle: check.
Orange safety blanket: check.
Just in case the foraging didn’t work out, Violet added an emergency pack of six sunflower seeds and two raisins. She wanted to be prepared.
One by one, she placed all the items in her regulation backpack. The last thing to go in was her orange safety blanket, and as she pushed it down to make it fit, she heard something crack. I hope that wasn’t my acorn mess kit, she thought.
Now that her bed was cleared, Violet could finally go to sleep. Violet loved her bed. Her pillow was stuffed with soft cotton balls, and her mattress was a quilted eyeglass pouch filled with downy feathers.
Tomorrow night she would be sleeping on the cold, hard ground. Violet shivered at the thought.
A few houses away, Tigerlily could hardly wait for the camping trip. When she joined the Mouse Scouts, she had high hopes for adventure. But it seemed like all they ever did was make boring crafts or try to make the world a better place. That might satisfy Violet, but Tigerlily wanted to do something exciting. And the day had finally come! They were going to earn their “Camp Out” badge. It didn’t get much better than that.
Tigerlily didn’t need to look at the Mouse Scout Handbook. She had her own ideas about what to pack. She had already pulled a few essential supplies from her emergency wagon that she thought would be useful. She threw a toothpick, a small roll of duct tape, and a zipper pull into her backpack. Then she fixed a paper clip and a rubber band to the outside. She picked up a twist tie and studied it. “You never know what will come in handy,” she said as she stuffed it in her backpack.
When she was done, Tigerlily looked at her rumpled bed. It still had a few things on it that were never going to fit in her backpack.
She decided to sleep on the floor instead. “It’s almost like sleeping on the ground,” she said. “I might as well start camping now!”
Packing Your Backpack
A well-packed backpack is the key to an enjoyable and memorable camping trip. Imagine the horror of stopping to set up camp only to find that you have forgotten your acorn mess kit or that your emergency whistle is broken.
A few days before your trip, make a checklist of the things you will need. When you have gathered all your items, lay them out in one place. Organize the items in the order that you will place them in your pack. Larger and heavier items should go in the bottom, while lighter items and things that could get crushed should be near the top. What you pack and how you pack can make or break your camping trip.
A well-packed backpack includes:
An acorn mess kit
A change of clothes
An orange safety blanket (for warmth and visibility)
An emergency whistle
A snack, and some water to be saved in case of emergency
A first-aid kit, including cotton swab tips, and antiseptic
The next morning, Violet left her soft warm bed and dressed in her Mouse Scout uniform. But when she put on her backpack, she nearly crumbled under the weight. “I’ll never make it!” Violet moaned as she slowly started walking to the park.
“Hey, Violet, wait up!” Tigerlily came trotting up behind her. Violet groaned.
“This is going to be the best badge EVER!” Tigerlily gushed as she ran in a little circle around Violet. Violet smiled weakly. Tigerlily was her best friend, but sometimes her enthusiasm for all things adventurous could be annoying.
“Not even Miss Poppy can ruin the fun this time,” Tigerlily said.
Tigerlily jogged ahead while Violet trudged along behind her. When they reached the meeting spot at the edge of the park, the other Scouts were already there.
Cricket’s pack was bulging at the seams. She could barely stand under the weight.
“What in the world do you have in there?” Tigerlily asked.
“Cheese,
mostly,” Cricket declared. “This is all about survival, isn’t it? I couldn’t survive without cheese.”
“Good point,” said Tigerlily. “But cheese isn’t going to protect you from wild animals.”
Violet gulped. Wild animals? Miss Poppy hadn’t said anything about wild animals.
Petunia tugged at one of the rubber bands hanging from Tigerlily’s pack. “I’m not sure any of this junk will protect you either.”
“You’d be surprised,” said Tigerlily.
“You don’t really think there will be wild animals out there, do you?” Violet was getting more and more nervous.
“I’m more concerned about tick-borne diseases and leaf mold,” Junebug said. Her voice was muffled by her neck scarf, which she had pulled up over her nose to protect herself from allergens. Junebug had a sensitive system.
Tigerlily noticed something satiny poking out of Hyacinth’s backpack. “What’s that?” she asked.
“The Mouse Scout Handbook said we had to make our own beds,” said Hyacinth, “so I brought my favorite sheets from home. I hope they fit the beds at the camp. I can only sleep on satin sheets.”
“Are there going to be beds?” asked Violet hopefully.
Tigerlily just laughed. “Don’t you two know anything about camping?” she asked. “It’s all about being in nature. We’ll be making our own beds out of leaves and moss. That’s what the handbook meant!”
Hyacinth gaped at Tigerlily. “You mean I have to sleep on the ground? On moss? What about bugs? What about dirt? I can’t possibly sleep in those conditions!”
“Just wait until you hear about the bathroom!” Petunia giggled.
A sharp tweet from a Mouse Scout emergency whistle announced Miss Poppy’s arrival. Only Mouse Scout leaders were allowed to use their whistle in non-emergency situations.
The Scouts stood at attention.
“All right, Scouts! Here are a few things to keep in mind before we start,” said Miss Poppy. “We are entering a WILDERNESS AREA. The wilderness may look beautiful, but it is full of HIDDEN DANGER. Keep track of your surroundings. Stay together and stay on the trail. DO NOT go off by yourself. If you find yourself separated from the group, STAY WHERE YOU ARE until help arrives. Beware of biting insects, and animals and birds that prey on small animals—including mice. Do not speak to animals that you do not know. Do NOT put anything in your mouth that you find in the woods until it has been identified by ME as edible. And whatever you do, never, ever touch POISON IVY.”
Violet shuddered. Poison ivy? She took a deep breath and raised her hand. “Miss Poppy, what is poison ivy?”
“Poison ivy is a noxious weed. It runs rampant through the woods. Touching poison ivy can cause a terrible itchy rash with blisters. And it looks like THAT!” Miss Poppy shouted, and pointed toward the entrance of the Left Meadow Nature Trail.
Violet looked, but she had no idea which plant Miss Poppy meant. They all looked the same to her.
Violet shut her eyes tight and held her tail. “I wish it was already tomorrow and we were done. I don’t know how I will ever survive.”
It’s Wild Out There!
What could be more wonderful than spending time in the great outdoors! As beautiful as nature is, never forget that it can be dangerous, too. Always be aware of your surroundings and keep an eye out for potential hazards. Being prepared can make your wilderness experience enjoyable and enriching.
WILDERNESS DANGERS
Poisonous plants: Poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac. Contact with these plants can cause terrible rashes.
All mushrooms: Many are poisonous. To be safe, do not touch, climb, or sit on them.
Biting and stinging insects: Ticks, mosquitoes, wasps, and hornets. Insects can carry disease, and their bites can be painful.
Predators: Foxes, snakes, and owls are known to hunt mice. Avoid these fiends at all costs!
Other wild animals will be more interested in any food that you are carrying. Be sure to secure your food safely, and do not store food in your tent, especially when you are sleeping!
Miss Poppy led the Scouts to the entrance of the Left Meadow Nature Trail, and the hike began. Before long, the Scouts were surrounded by ferns. Tall trees blocked the sunlight. Violet squinted to adjust to the darkness.
“Take a deep breath, Scouts,” said Miss Poppy. “That is pure, fresh, wilderness air. Doesn’t it make you feel alive?”
Violet gulped as much air as she could. It seemed just like the same old air she always breathed. She didn’t feel any more alive than she usually did; in fact, it didn’t even feel much like wilderness. She could still hear the sprinkler system in the park behind them. She also noticed that the menacing squirrel from the park was darting through the trees ahead. Her shoulders ached from her backpack, and they were just getting started!
Meanwhile, Tigerlily darted back and forth across the trail, climbing up trees and leaping from branch to branch overhead just as the squirrel was doing.
“Stay on the ground, Tigerlily!” Miss Poppy said. “And stay away from the wildlife. Remember, squirrels can’t be trusted.”
Tigerlily hopped to the ground and trudged alongside Violet.
The squirrel giggled and threw a nut at Tigerlily. It hit the ground right in front of her.
“Hey!” Tigerlily shouted, but the squirrel just laughed and threw another nut.
“Do not provoke him, Tigerlily,” Miss Poppy scolded.
Tigerlily fell back in line with Violet. “He started it,” she muttered.
Violet shrugged and smiled at Tigerlily, but she wasn’t having any fun either. She tried to keep up with Tigerlily but soon found herself lagging behind.
Before long, Hyacinth and Petunia had passed her, too. They were arguing about the comforts of camping. “I still can’t believe we won’t have beds!” Hyacinth cried. “You’re probably going to tell me they don’t have fluffy towels in the bathroom either.”
“That’s camping,” said Petunia.
Tigerlily darted ahead of the troop and circled back. She stuck her tongue out at the squirrel when Miss Poppy wasn’t looking. When she got back to Violet, she had a hard time going at Violet’s pace.
“Maybe it would be easier if you tried walking a little faster,” Tigerlily said.
Violet glared at her as she huffed and puffed.
“Keep the chitchat to a minimum, Scouts,” Miss Poppy said. “Let’s appreciate nature’s music.”
Violet was too out of breath to appreciate anything.
As if on cue, the squirrel that had been following them cackled so loudly that Violet jumped, and her hat fell off. As she bent down to pick it up, Junebug and Cricket ambled ahead of her. Junebug was sniffling from allergies while Cricket nibbled a Cheese Crispit she had taken from her backpack.
“I hope you are not leaving crumbs, Cricket,” Miss Poppy said. “Any kind of litter will disturb nature’s fine balance.”
Tigerlily pointed to a line of ants marching away, holding Cheese Crispit crumbs high above their heads. “They seem to be balancing just fine,” she said, and giggled.
“If I have to ask you to be quiet one more time, it will be straight back to Buttercups for everyone,” Miss Poppy said.
“This would be so much more fun without Miss Poppy,” Tigerlily whispered to Violet.
“I suppose it could be worse,” said Violet. “At least it’s not raining.”
Just then, there was a loud clap of thunder.
Take a Hike!
Hiking is a wonderful way to explore nature and get exercise at the same time. All you need is comfortable clothing and the great outdoors.
When you are hiking in the wilderness, stay on marked trails. Venturing off the trail cannot only get you lost but can also get you into serious trouble. You could fall off a cliff, slip on a wet rock, or be carried away in a fast-moving stream. Stay on the trail, and always hike with at least one other mouse.
Here are a few other tips to help you get the most out of the great o
utdoors safely:
• Before your hike, study a map of the area you will be exploring.
• Keep an eye on the weather, and be prepared for sudden changes in the conditions.
• Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.
• Always bring water and a snack.
• Do not litter or disturb the environment.
• Never go into the wilderness alone!
“Uh-oh!” Violet gasped.
“I hate thunder!” Junebug shuddered. “My ears are very sensitive to loud noises.”
“I don’t mind thunder, but lightning is scary!” said Cricket.
“I LOVE thunderstorms!” Tigerlily said, throwing her head back and waving her arms in the air.
“Thunderstorms are SERIOUS BUSINESS, Scouts,” Miss Poppy said. “It is important to follow the proper thunderstorm procedure. Now listen up. Gather any plant material handy to provide cover. Then, backpacks OFF, and squat DOWN. We want to stay as low to the ground as possible. Stay APART. Do not hold hands. Lightning can travel from one mouse to another.”
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